Beauty, Charm & Style

At the moment, I have long, swept to the side, wispy bangs.  And they look amazing…when I have the time to put my hair up in hot rollers in the morning.  But on those snooze button mornings, where my hair lacks body or control and remains straight at sticks – those are the days I dread my bangs.

Those once wispy hairs are now just a big clump getting in the way of things. I refuse to pin my bangs back like the Olympic gymnasts when I wear a ponytail and if I pull all my hair back in a headband, suddenly my forehead is exposed to the world.  Everyone now see its imperfections, fine lines and occasional dry patches.

But, I don’t want to hide behind my bangs.  Not any more. I have a nice forehead and the masses deserve to see it.  I’m going to use Kate Somerville’s Quench Hydrating Face Serum and see what happens.

Kate Somerville’s Quench Hydrating Face Serum

Hydration is essential for healthy skin, we all know this, but it is still often overlooked.  So, after I finish my wash and tone, I apply 2 pumps of the Quench Hydrating Face Serum to my forehead, T-zone and cheeks.  I let the serum soak into my skin, locking in that moisture.  Then I apply my night cream and hit the hay for some much needed beauty sleep.

Having added this hydrating serum to my nighttime routine, in these past two weeks, my skin seems to have regenerated and repaired itself.  I look forward to the powerful citrus smell as I apply the serum to my face and I get all excited every night when I get to use my secret serum.

Leaving my skin undeniably luminous, I have achieved a gorgeous and dewy complexion. And with my face illuminated, my whole spirit shines a little more.   I’m not afraid anymore to hit the town with my wide headband and a naked forehead!

The Breakdown:

• $ 65.00 for a 1 oz. Pump bottle
• For Normal to Dry Skin
• Vitamin A helps counteract aging
• Helps protect your skin against environmental aggression and excessive UV exposure

Tips:

• This is a powerful serum and if you notice any irritation, try using every other day – you’ll get the same effect without any tenderness or inflammation.

Air Travel takes a lot out of a girl.  You’re tired, grumpy and always feel less than fabulous. What I have learned with my years of frequent flying is:

1. Don’t try to sneak a large bottle of face toner in a carry on bag – they will catch you and you will get embarrassed.
2. There is no graceful way to run through an airport when late for a plane – inevitably you will look like a character from “Home Alone.”
3. Air travel dehydrates a body faster than running a marathon.

And with dehydration comes a sore throat, scratchy skin, and straw hair.  So I fix my body with a glass of water, I fix my face with a ton of night cream, and I fix my hair with a hydrating hair masque – Alterna TEN Hair Masque.

Alterna 10 Hair Masque

Washing off the stink of travel and the smell of recycled air can be the best part of travel. Home at last, with regular sized bath products and full Caboodle of makeup, I’m back to my regular old self.

I wash my hair as usual, and after a nice rinse, I ring my hair out, turn the water off and towel my locks a little drier.  I take a big heaping handful of the Alterna 10 hair masque and massage into my hair.   Then to make sure no strand is left behind, I take my large toothed comb and run in through my hair.

A three minute wait time, just enough time for a good, clean leg shaving and a quick salt scrub for the feet.  I turn the water back on and rinse my hair.  Ooooh, it feels so soft and smooth.  Wanna feel?

It is important to keep your hair hydrated.  One of the biggest mistakes made in hair care is letting your hair get too dry.  Over washing, too may products  and color treatments all lead to dry damaged hair, which is not attractive and not sexy to run fingers through.  So at least once a week a good hydrating treatment allows hair to maintain it’s glossy look and silky feel.

The Breakdown:

• $55 a jar
• 5.1 fl. Oz.
• For all hair types

Tips:

• For more intense results, wrap hair using a warm, moist towel for 5-10 minutes before rinsing.

“Forgive me Father, for I have sinned, I went to bed with my makeup on.”

“For your penance, promise never to do this again, and revive your faith with Peter Thomas Roth’s Cucumber Gel Masque.”

Peter Tomas Roth Cucumber Gel Masque

Friday night was one hell of a party.  Wearing my new heels and a new frock, I stepped out on the town for an unforgettable evening of drinks, dancing and devilish good times.

12 hours later, my eyes peel open, my head is pounding and I think I may be dying.  I shuffle to my bathroom, splash water on my face, look in the mirror – I’m a train wreck.  Hair disheveled, mascara smudged and my skin, my usually porcelain white skin, looks dull and grey.  Talk about a dingy mug.

After a quick jump in the shower, I begin my regular face routine, wash, eye make-up removal and then I opened up my new jar of Cucumber Gel Masque.  A pure green color with a bit of a jiggle, this stuff smells so yummy that I know it’s going to be good for my face. I spread the gel generously and evenly over my face and I wait.  10 minutes.

While I wait, there are three reasons as to why I like this stuff.

1. The gel doesn’t dry out and crack like most masques, I feel the hydration happening the entire time I wear it.
2. Though the gel is green, the mask is relatively clear.  I can walk around my house and not scare my roommates, mailmen, plumbers or unexpected pizza delivery boys.
3. It’s made for even my super sensitive skin.

10 minutes is up.  I rinse off the masque with cool water, pat my face dry with a clean towel and use my regular eye cream and facial moisturizer. And behold – I have exorcised the demons of last night! And though my previous night’s behavior is not to be condoned, if you find yourself in a similar position, it’s good to know that Peter Thomas Roth’s Cucumber Gel Masque is available to wash away your sins. Hallelujah!

The Breakdown:

• 5.3 oz
• $45.00
• Contains cucumber, papaya, chamomile, pineapple, orange, lemon and bilberry extracts.
• Suitable for all skin types, even the most sensitive and irritable.

Tips:

• Keep your gel in the fridge for a cool revitalizing burst in the morning
• Spread this stuff lightly on your face when you hit the gym, it will keep your face calm, cool and clean while you sweat away on the elliptical.
• Safe to use every day or just special occasions.

For most of my life, I have gone between short hair and long hair, spending months growing out my hair and then suddenly (and often irrationally) cutting it short, only to immediately start growing it out again.  Currently, I’m growing it out.  And as I grow  my hair, I take extra care to keep it healthy, hydrated and free of split ends.

With hair best described as virginal (no products, no dye) and I’m extremely cautious as to what I put on my hair. I keep my hair pretty mush “as is,” but today I’ve decided to try WEN’s Lavender Cleansing Conditioner as way to quickly infuse my hair with vitamins and moisture.

WEN Lavender Cleansing Conditioner

While researching what I was about to put on my hair (a lady needs to be educated) I discovered the real secret behind WEN.  Developed by stylist Chaz Dean back in 2001, WEN has taken the shampoo out of the cleanser. It sounds crazy, but just as soap can dry out your face, shampoo can strip your hair and scalp, leaving it dry and dull.

I rinse my hair with water for about two minutes, which gets rid of any dirt, pollution or grime my hair encountered that day.  The directions on the bottle suggest for my medium length hair, I need to use between 16 and 24 tiny pumps.

The lavender sent is powerful and strong, but not overwhelming and I have visions of my hair smelling like fresh lavenders all day.  Lavender is a naturally relaxing and calming aroma and has been used since the Roman times, where they believed the scent to rejuvenate the skin. And, according to my book on the language of flowers, lavender means constancy, which is a great way to approach hair care, no ups and downs, just always perfect hair.

Evenly massaging the cleanser in my hair, I leave it in for about 5 minutes, allowing for all the natural extracts to soak in till I rinse my hair with cool water.  (Don’t use hot water to rinse your hair) Getting out of the shower, my hair is tangle free and I can tell my hair is going to be silky.  I dry and style my hair as usual. It seems I have found my weekly hair revitalizing and hydrating treatment!

The Breakdown:

• 16 oz pump bottle
• $28.00
• Contains soothing ingredients, including Organic Aloe Vera Leaf Juice, Rosemary Leaf Extract, Lavender Extract, Cucumber Extract and Chamomile Extract
• Safe for all hair types, including color treated hair

Tips:

• Thoroughly rinse hair after application.
• Secret Tip – Can also be used when shaving your legs instead of shaving cream.